Healthy Ways to Deal with Stress at College

Nobody is totally immune to stress, but attending college can make you especially vulnerable to it. Attending college often means a substantial life change for many young individuals; whether that means leaving their parental home and beginning to live more independently, or moving away for college in another town, state or even another country! If you are currently at college and feel like your brain and mind is about to give way under the weight of classes, books, and papers, then here are some simple yet effective ways to combat stress and anxiety as a student.

Get Enough Sleep

One of the main reasons why you might be feeling stressed out is that you’re not getting enough sleep every night. Not getting enough sleep will leave you feeling tired and groggy; in return, this could affect your productivity, quality of work, and motivation to succeed. As a college student, it can be easy to stay up way later than you’d intended; either carrying out college work, socializing with friends, or simply finding yourself engrossed in a new movie, TV show or book. Although a late night once in a while won’t hurt you, aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep per night is essential for optimum physical and mental health.

Exercise More

Whether you’re studying for a bachelor of arts or an online MSHI program, getting even a small amount of physical activity in your daily routine will surely benefit your levels of stress and emotion at college. Exercise not only helps to improve our physical health by speeding up our metabolism and burning fat, it can also benefit our mental health by increasing the secretion of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the brain, causing a lift in mood. This is why it’s so much easier to feel happy and carefree when you’re doing something like going for a run!

Keep Up Some Hobbies

When you move to college, it is often the beginning of a huge lifestyle change. As a college student, you will have more adult responsibilities, and there’s often less time for having fun. But, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give up on your passions. Whether you’re an athlete, musician, or enjoy traveling, taking some time out to enjoy your favorite hobbies at college can help with alleviating stress.

Reach Out

One of the best things about being at college is that even when you are experiencing a lot of stress, there will be people who you can turn to. For example, your college counsellor will be very experienced when it comes to helping students regain control of their stress levels; it is their full-time job! Along with this, you could also reach out to fellow students who may be able to share what works well for them. If you are currently studying for a program such as an online health informatics degree, your online tutor will be able to give you help and advice on dealing with stress. If you think that it is getting worse or you worry that you have anxiety, you should always visit your doctor.

How do you deal with college stress? Share your top tips in the comments.